The most astounding thing about the Monroe County grand jury report that dropped on May 29 wasn’t the gawdawful litany of corruption at Key West City Hall. It wasn’t the call for the resignations of City Commissioner Lissette Carey and Assistant City Manager Todd Stoughton. It wasn’t criminal indictments of then-City Attorney Ron Ramsingh, Chief Building Officer Raj Ramsingh and Code Enforcement Director Jim Young.
None of those. Instead this: Sixteen Monroe County residents unanimously opposed redacting their names on the final report.
As one of the grand jurors posted on social media after the report was released, “We also asked for our names to not be redacted because we wanted the citizens of Key West to know that we STAND WITH THEM and WANT CHANGE! We have a great group of committed jurors from Key Largo to Key West. We took this very seriously from the beginning to the end. If it stings, thatโs probably because itโs true.”
As my middle school friends would say, “Dank report from the GOAT of all grand juries. Mad respeck. They ate and left no crumbs. Receipts to prove it.”
Grand jury deliberations are by law secret. Jurors are bound to silence while they’re working and encouraged to remain so after their work is done. Most often jurors’ names remain secret. Understandable, of course, since jurors go back to their real lives and don’t want the doxing and trolling that can follow unpopular grand jury reports.
But not this grand jury. Sixteen of our neighbors, coworkers and friends bravely stood up publicly, no holds barred, and demanded the City of Key West do the right thing. This is what jurors concluded:
“Let this report serve as a blueprint for reform and a warning to those who would place personal loyalty and personal gains above public duty. The citizens are watching. The laws will be upheld. And the sunshine, so central to our island, must now be restored by our government. We stand united in our findings and recommendations — because the people of Key West deserve better, and now, they know the truth.”
Over five weeks beginning in April, this grand jury heard from 25 current and former city employees and other witnesses and reviewed countless documents. There’s been a steady release since early May of public record documents the grand jury considered to shape its report, indictments and recommendations.
If you’ve followed along, reading these “receipts” as pop culture calls them, you’ll have come to the same conclusions as the grand jury.
The jurors actually read the devastating Corradino Report, something several current and former commissioners did not, preferring to let then-City Attorney Ramsingh guide them on the appropriate response.
Ramsingh’s guidance? Pull the report, disregard its pointed observations of corrupt building and code activities involving his brother and instead, give then-City Manager Al Childress the old heave-ho, because Childress was trying to clean out the Bubba boys club.
Grand jury final report
Commissioner Carey response
Grand jury report | There is hope for our island
On June 26, 2024, Ramsingh got what he wanted. Childress was fired. At 5:10 p.m. the Key West City Commission voted 4-3 in a special meeting to terminate Childressโ four-year contract. It had taken 3 hours and 10 minutes of charged discussion, with spontaneous applause and heckling from the audience โ and just seconds to cast the vote.
Voting against Childress were outgoing Commissioners โฏClayton Lopez, Billy Wardlow and Jimmy Weekley. Joining them was Commissioner Carey, who continued on the commission after the Aug. 20 election. Voting to retain Childress were then-Mayor Teri Johnston, Mary Lou Hoover and Sam Kaufman.
I wrote at the time that Ramsingh “may well come to regret his role in cobbling together this Bubba Uprising at City Hall.” At the time, I figured this was just another of those small-town debacles that go sideways.
Even my most cynical self wasn’t thinking systematic criminal corruption and internal management dysfunction that has sent multiple, highly valuable City Hall employees running for the doors or suffering retribution at the hands of the good ol’ boys. From what I’ve heard, it’s impossible to overestimate the toxic, rumor-infested environment city employees are drowning in right now.
There could be hope, and the grand jury validates that, not only with its proud willingness to stand up publicly, but with its support for Mayor Danise Henriquez and the city staff.
“These (city employees who came forward) are the individuals who are the fabric of what is needed right now and those in power should strive to keep them. The motivation to do their job well and devotion to public service embody the ethical core that the City of Key West desperately needs.
“There are good people in place who can bring back pride to the city, but they cannot do it without support. They alone cannot change what has been enabled and fostered through decades of maladaptive functioning by leadership. By working together and with an open mind to allow for all to speak and be heard, versus a strict compliance to the โchain of command,โ can integrity and trust return.
“The Grand Jury also acknowledges that the Mayor is aware of the significant challenges currently facing city government, including issues related to administrative efficiency, fiscal management and public service delivery. It is evident the Mayor wants to take a proactive approach by initiating reforms and engaging with key stakeholders to develop solutions. The Grand Jury commends this approach and encourages continued transparency and collaboration to ensure meaningful and lasting improvements that benefit the entire community.”
Learn more
CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING: The Key West City Commission will meet in special session to discuss the final grand jury report 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, June 25 in chambers. The meeting is open to the public and will also be available to watch online. This will be the first time commissioners have had an extended public discussion of the report.
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